Improvement in girths for harness



G. M.- SANF 0RD Girth for Harngss.

No'. 199,318. Patented Jan. 15,1878.

' ATTORNEY NPETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON n c at c in the sectional view of The ends of the saddle-girth are finished with UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. SANFORD, OF HAUPPAUGE, NEW YORK.

. IMPROVEMENT IN G IRTHS FOR HARNESS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,318, dated January 15, 1878 application filed November 24, 1877'.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES M. SANFORD,

of Hauppauge, in the county of Sufl'olk and Figure 1 of the drawings is a representa tion of a plan view of the padded girth and center strap combined. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the padded girth. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the padded girth.

This invention has relation to road and track girths for horses and it consists, mainly, in the construction and novel arrangement of the padded saddle-girth and the belly-band, connected therewith by suitable straps or fastenings', confining it in the middle depression between the edge pads of the girth, as hereinafter fully shown and described.

The object of this invention is to provide a convenient girth which will obviate chafing and render breechin g unnecessary, which will have its two main portions so connected together that they will not dangle about in harnessing or unharnessing, although they can be easily separated when necessary, and which will always lie true, and cannotbeoome crossed under the horses belly.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the shorter part or saddle-girth, and B the long strap or belly-band, the two forming, when constructed as hereinafter described, my road and track girth. The saddlegirth is made with edge cushionsa of soft material, separated from each other by the middle portion b,which is flat, and forms a depression between the edge pads, as indicated the drawings.

the usual buckles or other fastenings, and at suitable distances apart on the exterior surface of the saddle-girth are secured small bridging-straps d and buckles e.

The belly-band B is of the usual construction and length. It may be padded slightly,

if thought advisable. It should be of the proper width to fit neatly in the depression 0 of the saddle-girth, between the edge cushions, which are designed to keep the bellyband in position therein, as well as to provide a protected or padded surface next the horse. When in place the cross-straps or fastenings of the saddle-girth are secured, and the two bands thereby connected together in such a manner that they cannot become crossed or disarranged under the horse, and cannot dangle separately in harnessing or unharnessin g. To the belly-band a ring, h, is attached for the martingale, the latter being provided with a snap-hook k, as a fastening. This snaphook fastening is very convenient, and it is not liable to chafe, as the horse is protected by the wide saddle-girth, from which the bellyband and its ring cannot escape.

With my girth a horse can be harnessed in less time than in the usual mode. Breeching need not be employed in driving. This renders the. harness cooler in summer and prevents chafing in the winter, which is a matter of much importance, horses.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The saddle girth A, having the edge cushions a and middle depression 0, and provided with the transverse bridge-fastenings, substantially as specified.

'2. The combination, with the saddle-girth A, having the edge cushions, middle depression between said cushions, and bridge-straps, of the belly-band A, fitting in said depression and confined by said bridge-straps, substantially as specified.

3. The girth herein described, having transverse bridge strap, the belly-band confined between the padded sides of the saddle-girth, and provided with a ring for the martingale attachment, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES SANFORD.

Witnesses:

WILMOT M. SMITH, THERON L. SMITH.

especially with clipped 

